An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday sentenced a 45-year-old Yemisi Najimu to 10 years imprisonment for causing harm to a pregnant woman.
Najimu was tried on three charges bordering on attempt to murder, acts intended to cause grievous harm, and occasioning harm.
According to the charge, “The defendant on 26th August, 2019 at No. 20, Afro Akinyede Estate, Odo Ado, Ado Ekiti, did attempt to murder, cause grievous harm, and assault one Bosede Ojo, contrary to Sections 320(1), 322, and 355 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.”
In her statement, the victim, who said she was eight months old pregnant at that time, said Najimu and her son were beating her child, after which she intervened to stop the fight.
According to her, the mother and son descended on her, pushed her, and she fell on the ground with her eight-month-old pregnancy, which led to abrupt delivery in the hospital, through surgery.
The prosecutor, Dolapo Oyewole, called five witnesses to prove the case and tendered statements of the victim and the defendant, as well as one cement block, and a medical report.
The convict also spoke in her own defense through her counsel and called three witnesses.
In his judgment, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye said, ‘’What the convict did was reprehensible enough. Therefore, the punishment on her must be such that would serve as deterrence to her and others who may wish to behave in a similar way in the future.
“She is sentenced to 10 years imprisonment with N70,000 as option of fine.”